The Mutter

The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia is definitely one of the most interesting museums I have ever been too. It is really different. The Mutter museum holds many actual specimens from the 1800s. Much of the collection was donated by Dr. Mutter shortly before his death. The Mutter today is affiliated with the University of Physicians but open to the public. The Mutter receives about 100,000 visitors per year and continues to be one of Philadelphia's best kept secrets.

The Mutter is a museum is a type of museum that is set up as a achieve. Originally the Mutter was a place where Doctors and students came to study conditions and specimens to learn how to be more familiar with medicine and treatment of patients. There are several real specimens such as the collections of skeletons, there are liquid specimens and others that are unreal replicas often made of wax. Today the Mutter is a museum where people come to see these interesting exhibits that are quite unlike any other they have seen prior.

I was really interested in a few of the exhibits at The Mutter. I really liked the story about the twin brothers were conjoined twins in the 1800s. It was a interesting exhibit and story about how they decided to live their life and make the best of a difficult situation but the really weird part was when we found out that after the brothers both died they were joined by their liver and could have been easily separated today. The really odd part is that The Mutter still has their original livers and its part of the display. It was disturbing but yet intriguing. I think that is the exact feeling the Mutter is trying to achieve. They often display things that are weird or different but yet interesting. Visitors are so interested in the displays although it is really odd.

I think the Mutter is a good example of a archive museum. It is almost like a history of conditions that afflict humans through time. I am not sure if people come there really for the educational value although there definitely is some, I think its a lot more of the shock value. I think the Mutter is one of those places you hear a lot of things about and when you go there your kind of not sure what to expect but I left feeling pretty good about it. I personally heard prior to our visit that the Mutter was a very disturbing place due to the natural of some of the displays and stories but I really wasn't grossed out. I just thought it was a acquired taste, everyone wouldn't like it but to those who are interested its a great experience.